ONONDAGA NATION -- Onondaga Nation School parents gathered this morning at the Longhouse, walked to the school as a group and removed their children from the building in protest as nation leaders declare that the school year is now over.

The official last day of school for nation school students is June 30, according to the LaFayette Central School District calendar, but Tadodaho Sid Hill said the school year ends today.

"We're concerned about this school," said Hill, of the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs. "We should have more say. This is our way of saying this is not satisfactory for us."

The removal of students comes during a debate over the selection of the school's next principal. Hill says a qualified member of the Onondaga Nation was unfairly denied the position. The principal debate has sparked numerous other issues and concerns that nation leaders and members have with the school and the district.

The school, located on the Onondaga Nation, is exclusively for the children of the nation. The pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade school is part of the LaFayette school district under a contract with New York state, which pays for the school. The school follows the state Education Department's curriculum and also teaches Onondaga language and culture.

Hill said community leaders will hold activities for the students during the next two weeks and the community will host the eighth grade graduation this year.

Earlier this spring, the district announced that current Principal Diane Ellsworth was retiring. Among the 20 applicants for the position was Simone Thornton, a teacher at the school with 20 years of classroom experience. Thornton was one of the three finalists selected by the search committee.

Thornton, a member of the Onondaga Snipe Clan, was raised on the nation, attended the nation school and her children attend the school.

Hill wrote a letter to the district giving his support to Thornton, but the district decided to hire Warren Smith, an assistant principal at Wellwood Middle School in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District. The nation school held a protest the day Smith was scheduled to tour the school. Smith decided to turn down the position.

After Smith declined the job, Onondaga leaders and parents met with members of the LaFayette school board to talk about issues with the school and the desire for Thornton to be hired as principal.

In a letter delivered to Onondaga Nation Attorney Joseph Heath on Wednesday, the school board said they will not hire Thornton. Heath declined to share the letter with Syracuse.com or discuss the district's reasons.

Hill said he believes the reasons are invalid and believes that Thornton is more than qualified to serve as principal. The letter is what sparked the removal of the students this morning, Heath said.

Keely CalfRobe, a parent in the district, says she wants Thornton as the principal and she wants to see changes at the school.

"This school used to be a second home to us," CalfRobe said. "Everyone was part of that school. The PTS, the community were all involved. The principal came to the council, met with them, interacted with them, reported to them and it was a good mutual, working relationship and we were better for it."

CalfRobe said having Thornton as principal could help bring back that relationship between the school and the community.

"It's a shame that they are not listening to us," she said about the district leaders and the school board. "That they don't recognize our ability to help ourselves."

As parents gathered at the school, Hill addressed the crowd.

"We've been trying to work with the board on a lot of issues with the school," Hill said. "I think them not hiring one of our people from the nation is kind of like the last straw for us."

Hill had a prepared letter for Ellsworth, the school's principal until June 30. She was absent today. LaFayette's Director of Instruction and Pupil Services Karen Ocque accepted the letter on behalf of the district.

LaFayette School Superintendent Laura Lavine was not seen at the school during the removal of the students, but she said she arrived at the school when she learned what was taking place.

Lavine said staff will continue to report to the school.

Heath has asked the state Department of Education to intervene. Heath said this week he requested that State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia launch an investigation into the district's handling of the nation school and conduct an audit.